Method of and apparatus for conveying plastic glass



.9 192 Aug 7 v. MULHOLLAND METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING PLASTIC GLASS Filed Aus;.19. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l ld/Z653: Q45

Aug 9 1927' v. MULHOLLAND METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING PLASTIC GLASS Filed Aug. 19. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MaX/2615s.'

Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

Ui'rn vV'ERG'II'.. MULHOLLAND, OF WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO HABT- FORD-EMPIRE COMPANY, OF'HABTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF DELA.-

WABE.

METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS FOR CONVEYING PLASTIC GLASS.

Application led August 19, 1924. Serial No. 732,896.

The invention relates to glass feeding ap paratus and it has particular relation to a method of and apparatus for conveying plastic glass in the form of several mold charges from a feedingy device to a shaping machine.

One of the ob'ects of the invention is to provide a metho of conveying plastic glass with a minimum chill which consists of lubricating the surface of a guideway, such as an inclined delivery trou h, and preventing or minimizing contact etween glass and guideway by means of air or other gas under pressure and sliding a body of glass in a molten condition along the gaseous film thus provided. v

Another objectof the invention is to provide a method, such as that described, which includes the feature of so projecting a current of air or other gas under pressure-in a direction transverse to that of the travel-of a mold charge along a guideway as to cause the charge to rotate during its passage therealong and thereby subject it to uniform thermal treatment from all sides.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus, such as that described, embodying means for projecting gas under pressure adjacent to the conducting surface of a guideway for charges of molten glass to lubricate such surface by providing a gaseous film or cushion to minimize Contact therewith and to avoid friction as far as possible; also to provide and direct a current of gas to assist in propelling the charge alon the trough.

Still further objects of the invention include such novel features of construction and arrangement as are disclosed in the accompanying specification and drawings; in which v Figure l is a -sectional elevational View through a guideway or delivery trough embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken on line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the fluid pressure chamber which is shown in Fig. l and which distributes the gaseous lm over the surface of the deilector;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view -throu h a delivery trough embodying `a modi ed form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken on line 5-5 vof Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevational View taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5; andv Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a still further embodiment of the invention.

A. guideway embodying the present invention is illustrated as comprising a laterally movable deflector 1 and a cooperating inclined delivery trough or-chute 2. The de-. Hector 1 is disposed beneath the feeding outlet. of any suitable glass feeding device which is adapted to deliver successive mold charges of predetermined size and shape for transmission to the molds of a ware shaping machine. Such a feeding device is` illustrated as comprising a forehearth 3 for .containing a body of molten glass and having a feeding orifice 4 in the bottom thereof. The

flow Vof glass through the orifice 4 is regulated by means of a vertically movable plunger 5. As the glass issues from the orice it is severedby a shearing device 6 to form successive mold charges o f the desired type, which fall into the deflector 1 and are directed thereby into the trough 2. Each of the mold charges gravitates through this trough and as it emerges therefrom it encounters a delector 7 which directs it downwardly into an awaiting mold 8 of a shaping machine. l

In order to facilitate the passage of the mold charges through the deflector l and the delivery trough 2 with minimum friction and to minimize any chilling contact of the charges, the surfaces of these elements are provided with a lubricating film of air or other gas under pressure. In the .structure shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, such a film is obtained by projecting jets of air or other gas throu `h apertures 9 provided in a fluid pressure c amber 10 which is disposed adjacent to the upper portion of the deflector 1 and which is supplied with air under pressure through an inlet pipe 11. The chamber 10 may be of semi-circular or arcuate configuration as shown, or may be annular if desired,

in which case it may function as a funnel.

' edge of the deflector 1 with the apertures 9 in such position as to project the jets of air longitudinally alon the side walls and bottom portions of bot the deilector 1 and the trough 2 to assist in propellin the mold charges along these elements an to form a lubricating and cushioning film upon which may freely slide.

the

Tsliis gaseous film may also be supphed, as

upon t e surface of the mold charges as they successively gravitate along the trough 2.

This tends to im art a rotative movement to such charges, epending on the velocity of the air jets. The rotation of the mold charges brings all of'the area of their sides equa ly into contact with the gaseous film and insures an outer surface or skin of uniform temperature.

I n the structure shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inelusive, the guideway consists of a `deflector 17 and a trough 18. The defiector 17 is of hollow construction to provide a fluid pressure chamber 19 co-extensive with its length and Width, which communicates with the atmosphere through apertures 21 and which is supplied with air or gas under pressure from a pipe 22. The trough 18 is also of hollow construction, preferably consistin of upper and lower channel members 23 an 24 secured together in spaced relation with a fluid pressure chamber 25 therebetween,- which is substantially co-eXtensive With the area of the trough. The chamber 25 is supplied with fluid under pressure, such as a1r or other gas, by a pipe 26, and communicates with the atmosphere through apertures 27 provided in the channel 23. The apertures 21 and 27 in the deilector 17and trough 18 respectively, preferably communicate directly with recesses 28 which are provided in the bottom portions and the side walls of these elements. The recesses 28 are formed with inclined walls in order to direct and distribute the air issuing therefrom in a substantially uniform film over the iding'surfaces of the deflector and troug and may be made by counter-sinking the apertures, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. A mold charge as it passes along the deflector and trough momentarily obstructs the flow of air through successive apertures, and causes a pressure to build up in the recesses 28 to form air cushions which support the mold charge and facilitate its passage along these elements without contact with them.

eline the walls of the recesses 28 as to direct the air in the general direction of travel of the mold charges along the defleetor and the l trough, as illustrated 1n- F ig. 7. In such a -`cases, to provide an ularly disposed air ports ig. 7 These ports arey 29 in the trough. drilled in the side walls and bottom portion of the trough at an acute angle thereto and are adapted to project a propelling current of air directly back of the mold-charges as they gravitate along the trough and impart to them an additional impetus. A trough may be provided entirely with the vertical ports 21 or entirely with the angular ports 29 or it may be provided with both vertical and angular ports so arranged as to. obtain the desired results.

By applying a positive propelling force longitudinally of the trough, as hereinbefore described, a trough of less inclination may be employed and mold charges may be con- '7 -veyed therealong with greater rapidity and accuracy in time of delivery to the molds than when gravity alone is relied upon as the impelling force.

The particular embodiments of the invention illustrated and described have been selected by way of example only, and it is to be understood that various modifications, arrangements and combinations may be employed in fulfilling the spirit of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim asmy invention:

1. The method of conveying molten glass from a feeder to a shaping machine, which comprises depositing the glass on a guide- Way and admitting gas under pressure to the surface of the guideway to lubricate the same and exert a propelling force on the glass vduring its passage along the guideway.

2. The method of conveying molten glass to a shaping -which comprises directing a stream of gas under pressure along the surface of a guideway for molten glass, to deposit thereon a gaseous film moving in the same direction as that in which the glass is to move in the guideway, and sliding a body of plastic glass over the gaseous film thus formed. A

3. The method of conveying molten glass to` a shaping machine which comprises directing a stream of gas under pressure transversely of `a guideway to lubricate the surface thereof and to cause the rotation of a. body of molten glass passing along said 5 In some instances it is desirable to so inguideway.

iso

sai

tate its passage along the guideway.

5. The method of conveying molten glass to a shaping machine which comprises directing a stream of gas under pressure longitudinally along a guideway to lubricate t ea bodyof plastic surface thereof, slidin lass over the gaseous lm thus formed and directing a stream of gas under pressure tangentially to said body to cause the rotation thereof.

6. An apparatus for conveying molten `glass comprising a guideway, and means for vdirecting gas under pressure along and substantially parallel to the surface thereof to provide a gaseous film for facilitating the passage of a body of plastic glass along said guideway.

7. An apparatus for conveying mold charges of molten glass comprising a guide- Way, and means for directing as under pressure transversely of said gui eway to lubricate the surface thereof and to cause the rotation of a body of plastic glass passing along said guideway.

8. An apparatus for conveying mold charges of molten glass, comprising a gu1deway, and means for directing das under pressure along the guideway, said guideway being prov1ded with apertures adapted to direct said gas along the surface of the guideway for facilitating the passage ofv mold chargesV along said guideway.

9. A n apparatus for conveying molten glass comprising a guideway, means for directing gas under pressure longitudinally along said uideway to lubricate the surface thereof, and means for directing gas under pressure transversely of said guideway to cause the rotation of a body of plastic glass passin therealong.

10. n apparatus for conveyin molten glass compxrising a guideway, an a fluid pressure c amber located adjacent to said guideway and having perforations therein ada ted tol direct fluid under pressure into guideway so as to provide a lubricating film adjacent tothe surface thereof and to exert a propelling forceon the glass during its passage along said guideway.

11. An apparatus for conveyin molten glass comprising a guideway, an a fluid pressure chamber located adjacent to said guidev'vay and having perforations therein adapted to direct Huid under pressure along said guideway in substantially the same direction as'- that in which the molten glass is to move in said guideway, t`o provide a lubrieating Elm adjacent to the surface thereof glass comprising a guideway, an

for facilitating the passage of a plastic bodyl of glass along said guideway.

' 12. An apparatus for conveying mold charges of molten glass comprising a guide- Way, and a fluid pressure chamber located adjacent to said guideway and having perforations therein adapted to direct fluid under pressure substantially transversely of said guideway to provide a lubricating film adjacent to the surface thereof and for exerting a propelling f orce on the charges during their passage along said guideway.y

13.'An vapparatus for conveyin molten a Huid pressure chamber located adjacent to said guideway and having perforations therein adapted to direct fluid under pressure tangentially to a body of plastic glass passing along said guideway to cause the rotation thereof.-

14. An apparatus for conveying molten glass, comprising a guideway having recesses provided in the bottom portion thereof, a fluid pressurechamber having passage- Ways communicating with said recesses, said recesses having an area greater than the cross-sectional area of said passa eways, and i adapted to be successively close by a body of p astic glass passing along said guidewa whereby a liuid pressure Will build up 1n said recesses and facilitate the passage of said body along said guideway.

' 15. The method of conveying mold charges to a shaping machine, whlch consists in depositing .aJ mold charge upon a guideway and directing a current of fluid under ressure against said mold charge' to propel 1t along said guideway.

16. The method of conveying mold charges to a shaping machine, which consists in depositing a mold charge u on a guide- Way and directing a current 0 fluid under pressure adjacent to the surface of the guide- Way to propel the charge therealong.

17. The method of feeding molten glass to a shaping machine, which consists in depositing a mold charge u on a guideway and directing a current of longitudinally of the the charge therealong.

18. The method of conveymg molten glass to a shaping machine, which consists in depositing a mold charge u on a guideway and directin a current of uid under pressure longitu inally of the ideway to lubricate the surface thereof andlio propel the charge therealong.*

19. An apparatus for conveying molten uid under pressure guldeway to propel glass to a shaping machine, comprising a guideway, and means for directing fluid' under pressure along the surface thereof in substantially the same direction as that in which the molten glass is to move in said guideway, so as to propel a body of glass therealong. v c

/ 20. An apparatus for conveying molten glass to a shaping machine, comprising a guidcway, and means for directing uid under pressure longitudinally thereof to propel a body of glass therealong.

21. An apparatus for conveylng molten glass to a shaping machine, which comprises a guideway, and means for directing fluid under pressure longitudinally of the guide- Way to providea gaseous film to lubricate the surface thereof and to propel a body of plastic glass along said guideway.

22. An apparatus for conveying molten glass, comprising an inclinedtrough ada ted to receive mold charges and conve under the action of gravity to a shaplng machine, and a uid pressure chamber, having apertures therein, disposed adjacent to the upper end of said trough and adapted to roject a current of Huid under pressure' 20 ongitudinally of said trough to assist in propelling mold charges therealong.

Signed at Hartford, Connecticut, this 5th day of August, 1924.

VERGIL MULHOLLAND. t

tem l5 

